Regional

1:11 pm

Tue July 26, 2011

NM Supreme Court Issues Stay In Emissions Case

New Mexico – A decision by the New Mexico Court of Appeals to send a dispute over the state's greenhouse gas emissions rules back to regulators for consideration has been put on hold.

The New Mexico Supreme Court issued a stay in the matter late Monday.

On Wednesday, the justices will consider a motion by environmentalists who are seeking to vacate the lower court ruling.

New Energy Economy, the group that initially petitioned the state for the emissions rules, has accused opponents of trying to circumvent the law by having the case sent back to the state Environmental Improvement Board.

The board was appointed earlier this year by Gov. Susana Martinez, who disagrees with the state's effort to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. She has called the measure a "cap and tax."